[phreedom]

Okay I know Cosmo isnt really geared toward the breastfeeding, mother demographic....but this was still kind of annoying nonetheless. There was an article titled ¨How Pregnancy Changes Your Body¨ (May Issue pg 212) It just talked about the general changes in a womans body during and after a baby. It also included a time line (eg in 1-2 weeks non section moms can start light exersice...in 4 weeks most moms can ditch maternity clothes...ect) .<br><br>
The one that stood out on the timeline was At 3-6 months...¨Women often stop breastfeeding now, so you can welcome cocktails back into your life!¨ <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/irked.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="irked">:<br><br>
Its just a little blurb, but itś stuff like this that can sometimes turn women off from breastfeeding. Ive heard so many people say that they would breastfeed but they just dont eat healthy enough or they like to drink beer or coffee (and no they are not raging alcoholics). They think in order to breastfeed you have to abstain from EVERYTHING and lead a mother Theresa like existance. Um...I welcomed cocktails back into my life about 6 weeks after DD was born (in moderation). And at 7 months she is still BFing. Needless to say I wrote a letter. I normally dont but it just kind of annoyed me.

 

[hellyaellen]

ugh! i know what you mean.

 

[MelanieMC]

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<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">Its just a little blurb, but itś stuff like this that can sometimes turn women off from breastfeeding.</td>
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ITA. It's little comments like this that you see so much of that turn many women off to bf'ing. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/irked.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="irked">:

 

[mommyddeville]

I think cosmo forgets that Mom's life will never be the same after baby is born. Welcoming back regular clothes and mixed drinks won't change that.

 

[PapayaMom]

IMO it's worse than if there demographic were child-bearing women. Their audience is the pre-mother demo which just keeps putting these silly ideas in young women's heads that there is this laundry list of things you can't do while breastfeeding and how inconvenient it is to bf etc. And unfortunately since our soceity is mainly geared towards self-fulfillment instead of family all of things mean that much more to the women reading it.

 

[Beccah+twins+1]

UGH! I also dislike the implication that you cannot have a cocktail, and all the messages that bombard women that you must abstain from everything.<br><br>
But even more, even though it's TRUE, I wish they didn't tell women, especially ones who haven't had kids yet, that most stop around 3-6 months. Just because it's true, doesn't mean it's GOOD. Women will read that and interpret it to mean that's <i>appropriate</i>, it's <i>normal</i>, it's all I need to strive for...<i>and if most stop around 3-6 months, why should I be any different?</i><br><br>
I thought you were going to say that the magazine said bf'ing will ruin their boobs..but this is just as bad if not worse.<br><br>
As pp said, your life changes forever when you have a baby..it's not about clothes and cocktails.

 

[Claire and Boys]

Sigh, cocktails are the last thing on my mind right now. I haven't had a drink in nearly 4 yrs, and it's not cos of BFing cos I know I COULD in moderation if I wanted, but my priorities are different now, as a mum.

 

[Zadee]

Ugg. I have a glass of wine now and then. Why do people think you have to live this spartan existence to BF?

 

[mimtessa]

And When did they say you can ditch the maternity clothes? I actually have a friend, a lovely person, who actually did stop breastfeeding so she could drink again. Sad but true. It would be great to reach the cosmo demographic, if just one...

 

[moderngal]

You can write them a letter here:<br><a href="http://magazines.ivillage.com/cosmopolitan/connect/know/spc/0,,284413_690650,00.html" target="_blank">http://magazines.ivillage.com/cosmop...690650,00.html</a><br><br>
I did. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[liam's mom]

that is really horrid.

 

[sapphire_chan]

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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">You know, just because *most* women stop breastfeeding at 3-6 months is no reason to encourage readers to follow that stupid trend. We're women of the new millenium and we can do better by ourselves and our babies. Throw off the ignorance of the past!<br><br>
The AAP, WHO, and a host of others specify *exclusive* breastfeeding through 6 months with gradual introduction of other foods after that and breastfeeding through at *least* the first year with two years being strongly recommended.<br><a href="http://www.kellymom.com/health/lifestyle/alcohol.html" target="_blank">http://www.kellymom.com/health/lifestyle/alcohol.html</a><br>
Has great information about drinking while breastfeeding. (Plus answers to everything else a pregnant woman should want to know about breastfeeding.)<br><br>
Also remember, breastfeeding helps keep fertility from returning and periods at bay! (Besides all that other health stuff.)<br></td>
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Tried to think what sort of letter I'd like to read as a not-yet-mama in her mid-20's.

 

[Bindweed]

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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>phreedom</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7935416"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">The one that stood out on the timeline was At 3-6 months...¨Women often stop breastfeeding now, so you can welcome cocktails back into your life!¨ <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/irked.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="irked">:</div>
</td>
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<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/hopmad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hopping mad"><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/banghead.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="banghead">

 

[rmzbm]

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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Zadee</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7941703"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Ugg. I have a glass of wine now and then. Why do people think you have to live this spartan existence to BF?</div>
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<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/nod.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="nod">

 

[Equuskia]

If these pre-moms only knew that most of the time, bfing will get you out of those maternity clothes much faster. I was out of them in a week, and back to pre-preggie weight in less than a month.

 

[hibana]

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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Bindweed</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7945457"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;"><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/hopmad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hopping mad"><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/banghead.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="banghead"></div>
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Yeah that. Goodness... the things people say you can't do while nursing... sheesh. *sipping a drink while NAK*

 

[momma2libby]

I wrote them and got a reply:<br>
Dear Rachel,<br><br>
Thank you for writing to us about our May story "How Pregnancy Changes<br>
Your<br>
Body." We will be printing part of your email in our July issue and<br>
will run<br>
your name as Rachel G******o, from D*****n, Texas.<br><br>
Thanks again, and keep writing.<br><br>
Bene Cipolla<br>
Cosmopolitan<br><br>
I can't remember what I wrote now!!!! I hope it sounded okay! (I'm not the greatest writer)

 

[theelfqueen]

I'm sure anything you sent will be GREAT.<br><br>
One of my good friends kept going on and on about how she couldn't drink because she's breastfeeding recently. I tried to set her straight, sent her good info, etc. Then we were talking about something the other day and said I'd make daquiris for an upcoming event. She said "You'll have to make virgin for me, I'll still be nursing" (her currently eleven month old) I just shook my head at her and laughed."So will I." (my currently two year old)

 

[GinaRae]

I'm glad you wrote!<br><br>
It's funny, but I think the happiest breastfeeders are definitely the ones who:<br><br>
A) Partake in a bit of what they like<br><br>
or<br><br>
B) Just don't partake because priorities change as a mom.<br><br>
The ones in misery are those who think their lives have to end. For years I had just different priorities and didn't have a drink but maybe once every six months. More recently I have a cocktail usually once every week or three. I am already looking forward to a yummy Tom Collins post pregnancy. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/winky.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink">